California Highway Patrol

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is the state police force of California, originally a highway patrol agency created in 1929 to ensure road safety in California, it assumed greater responsibility as time went on. It now also protects state buildings and facilities, conducts criminal investigations and assists local law enforcement agencies.

Highway Patrol Duties

The agency patrols all highways in unincorporated areas, including all freeways. Its officers enforce the provisions of the California Vehicle Code (especially the prohibition on speeding), pursue fugitives spotted on the highways, and attend to all significant obstructions. They patrol in Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors, Chevrolet Camaros, motorcycles, airplanes, helicopters and boats in the SF Bay area.

CHP officers are responsible for investigating and disposing of car accidents, debris, dead animals, and anything else that may be impeding the free flow of traffic. They are often the first government agents at the scene of an accident (or other obstruction), and in turn summon paramedics, tow truck drivers, or Caltrans personnel as required.

CHP officers often run what are known as traffic breaks to enable other officers ahead to clean up accidents or obstructions safely. This is done by the officer activating his unit's rear or overhead flashing lights, waiting for surrounding traffic to drop back, and then swerving back and forth across all lanes of the freeway to gently force the traffic behind him to slow or to stop. Traffic breaks can be a frightening sight for out-of-state visitors or children who have never seen them before.